macskull

So apparently I now own the SmRT base on test... >.>

Depends what you're building for, I usually put 5 Red Fortunes in and maybe a LotG rech in the 6th slot if I need/want it.

... I have not seen one good Psi Blaster with Scramble Thoughts in their build, either before or after I13.

Just give Defenders a mash-up of the Tanker and Blaster cold pools:

* Flash Freeze, 41
* Block of Ice, 41
* Frozen Armor, 44
* Hoarfrost, 44
* Hibernate, 47

I know I'm reaching way out on a limb here, but... suggestions for new arena maps? On larger teams pretty much anything goes but I've noticed that for smaller team matches and 1v1s it seems to always be cargo ship, lab, or Perez. Preferably a medium-sized map with a decent amount of geometry.

I am sad now:

Yes, sarcasm and jokes translate so well over the internet, especially from people that don't normally post around here.

Try this... could probably swap out Kick/Tough for Assault/Tactics if you wanted to. Cheaper build, still effective.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Natural Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Martial Arts
Secondary Power Set: Regeneration
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Storm Kick -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Mako-Dam%(46)
Level 1: Fast Healing -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(9), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(11), Mrcl-Rcvry+(42)
Level 2: Reconstruction -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(3), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(3), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal(9)
Level 4: Quick Recovery -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(5), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(5), P'Shift-End%(7)
Level 6: Focus Chi -- AdjTgt-ToHit(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(37), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(37), AdjTgt-Rchg(37), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx(40), Rec'dRet-Pcptn(40)
Level 8: Crane Kick -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), ExStrk-Dam%(43)
Level 10: Dull Pain -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(25), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(27), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(27), Dct'dW-Heal(31)
Level 12: Warriors Challenge -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(21), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(21), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(23), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(23), Mocking-Rchg(25)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 16: Integration -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(17), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(19)
Level 18: Super Speed -- Clrty-EndRdx(A), Clrty-RunSpd(19), Clrty-Stlth(46)
Level 20: Combat Jumping -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A)
Level 22: Super Jump -- EndRdx-I(A), Jump-I(43)
Level 24: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(42), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(42), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(43)
Level 28: Instant Healing -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(29), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(29), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Dct'dW-Heal(31)
Level 30: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Eagles Claw -- Hectmb-Dam%(A), Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(33), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(33), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Mako-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 38: Moment of Glory -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(39), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(39), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39), RedFtn-Def(40)
Level 41: Phase Shift -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Web Grenade -- GravAnch-Hold%(A), GravAnch-Immob/Rchg(45), GravAnch-Acc/Immob/Rchg(45), GravAnch-Acc/Rchg(45), GravAnch-Immob/EndRdx(46)
Level 47: Shuriken -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(48), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50), Apoc-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Targeting Drone -- HO:Cyto(A), HO:Cyto(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 10% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 10% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 10% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 10% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 10% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 10% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 10% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 10% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 2.5% Defense(Smashing)
• 2.5% Defense(Lethal)
• 3.13% Defense(Fire)
• 3.13% Defense(Cold)
• 1.88% Defense(Energy)
• 1.88% Defense(Negative)
• 1.25% Defense(Melee)
• 3.75% Defense(Ranged)
• 1.56% Defense(AoE)
• 4.05% Max End
• 39% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 73.8% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 12% Enhancement(Heal)
• 10% FlySpeed
• 175.7 HP (13.1%) HitPoints
• 10% JumpHeight
• 10% JumpSpeed
• MezResist(Held) 9.35%
• MezResist(Immobilize) 13.8%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 6.6%
• 20% Perception
• 13% (0.22 End/sec) Recovery
• 24% (1.34 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 10.1% Resistance(Fire)
• 10.1% Resistance(Cold)
• 1.26% Resistance(Energy)
• 1.26% Resistance(Negative)
• 10% RunSpeed

Used it on Hami once, that was fun.

The main differences between pre-I13 matches where everyone was at the resistance cap and post-I13 matches where everyone is at the resistance cap are the removal of unresisted Blaster damage, the removal of unresisted Defender debuffs, the mez changes, and the gutting of movement slows (though that probably doesn't have as much to do with it). Of those, the first two are probably the most crucial, at least for mostly-hero matches. I'm not disagreeing that there are situations where having that option would be good, and I will keep pushing for that option just so we can play around with it and see what kinds of changes it would make to the arena dynamic.

I did bring this up when I talked briefly with Mod 8 on test yesterday, and I've mentioned it to Sunstorm repeatedly, but I think we need to make a really good case why giving us the option would be a good thing if we want a chance at getting it.

You're really gimping your slotting of key powers for the sake of set bonuses.

If you can afford to put it off, wait 6 or so months until we know more about Going Rogue - you'll be able to get more bang for less buck, as a general rule, especially if one of the main uses for the machine will be CoH. Processing of large files means the RAM is going to be just as important as the CPU - you're going to want fast RAM, and lots of it. I'd say shoot for 4 or 8 gigs as a bit of future-proofing, since RAM isn't terribly expensive these days. If you're hunting a higher-end processor like Intel's i7 line, there's yet another reason to put off your purchase, as prices will come down over the next few months. Purchasing an i7-based system means you'll be paying quite a bit more for both the processor, motherboard, and RAM - the question is whether the extra performance is worth the extra cost, and at the moment I'd say no. Much of the i7's performance in gaming seems to be tied to the power of the GPU you're using, as well as whether you have one or two, so if you're looking for top-tier graphic performance out of an I7 you'll need to pair it with the high-end GPUs to match.

Basically, just wait six months or so and then refigure what you're looking at, as the computer market will be completely different at that point.

It's difficult to change mindsets, so that will probably put a huge road block between you and whatever suggestions people make. First I'd suggest throwing everything you know about, concept, roleplay, and backstory out the window and just picking powerset combinations because you've seen others do cool things with them, or because you say "hm, this combination might be fun and/or powerful." Basically, become a powergamer - again, that's a mindset change. Try to do something interesting, like leveling from 1-50 only on sewer teams, or speed run lots of task forces and try and get your completion time as low as you can. When you bump up against a wall in PvE, don't forget that there's still the entire PvP game you've likely not experienced - PvP is quite different than PvE these days, but if PvE just isn't doing it for you anymore you can give PvP a shot. It's what I did, and it's what keeps me around.

Your best bet in regards to this matter is to PM a developer directly, probably Ghost Falcon as he seems to be the lead tech/support guy. However, I wouldn't expect the devs to disclose backend information about how the servers run unless they see fit to do so.

Only problem with that is I'm really sacrificing damage slotting in my blasts, which will be my primary form of damage since Fossilize and Stone Prison mess with my KB.

EDIT: Just tossed Donna's build into Mids and I kind of like that one. Just can't imagine not slotting Acro for endredux so I swapped one of the KB IOs in there for an end IO. Wondering if, for all intents and purposes, 40.5 points of KB protection is the same as 41 in DR-land.

Things like this are why I play in windowed mode. Haven't had any issues like this since I installed Win7.

The tech demo at the Hero-Con panel was run using dual ATI HD4850s, if I'm not mistaken. Ghost Falcon has stated that the HD4850 will be the baseline for running ultra mode, so essentially they're saying that last year's higher-end cards are going to be the minimum for getting GR looking all pretty (plus it means they'll have likely fixed some of the persistent ATI-specific graphics glitches). I'm personally considering upgrading to a 5xxx series card (I have an HD4850 at the moment) but have no intention of upgrading the rest of my system as it's only a year old.

If you want to get a card now that will support Going Rogue when it's released, you'll be best-served with a HD5850 or HD5870 - I don't mention nVidia's offerings because they're just not as competitive at the moment in the price/performance ratio. However, I'd wait until closer to the launch date for GR, as there will likely be even better hardware available then, and today's high-end stuff will cost less.

Dunno why you'd say /Elec - it lacks the AoE to farm as efficiently as, say, /Psi or /Earth (or even /Thorn).

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say the GR closed beta would start two or three months before launch, meaning it'd probably start sometime next spring and the game would launch early summer. I'd be happy if they made I17 include the graphics update and then released GR along with I18 - either way, even if the next issue doesn't hit until next summer that's still about 9 months between issue launches, and it's not entirely unheard of for long periods to pass between releases (8 months between I6 and I7, and 7 months between I12 and I13).

Interesting side note here:

Apparently the devs are wondering what exactly happened to test arena after I13 (answer: most of the players left, and we were forced to run with DR off because of the lack of a heal decay option at the time, which resulted in a boring and one-dimensional game), and are considering coming to check out some of the KB matches on Freedom. The problem here is that it's a very fine line for both us and them to walk - I understand the frustration many players have about the current system and their want to vent that frustration on a redname when they actually show up in-game, and I understand the devs' want to get some insight into what's actually happening with the game at the moment. I don't know if they'll make themselves known if they ever do decide to show up or if they'll just casually watch without us knowing, but if we do end up bumping into devs on live watching our matches, please remember to be at the very least reasonable and cool-headed. Don't bombard them with questions and insults, and don't try and ask for the old system back. If we do get time to sit down and talk with a dev on live, we need to offer our suggestions simply and give support for those suggestions in order to make any meaningful change.

Personally I'm still a bit wary about extensive dev involvement after I13 - I and many others I've spoken with want changes to be made, but don't want a bunch of changes that aren't what anyone asked for. I think it's a safe bet to say that we need to make ourselves approachable in order for real dialogue to happen, and we need to be asking for minor tweaks and fixes rather than overhauls of entire systems (like getting particular powers looked at before we focus on getting things like travel suppression or heal decay modified).